Conveying apparatus.



PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

J. T. COWLEY. CONVEYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED my 29, 1905. mms'wxm ma. 2:;1901.

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1907.

J. T. COWLEY. commune APPARATUS.

APPLIOATIDN FILED KAY 89, I906. RENEWED MAR. 21, 1907.

3 EHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. COWLEY, OF BOSTON,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1'7, 1907.

Application filed May 29, 1905. Serial No. 262,731. Renewed Karel: 21, 1907. Swill 110. 368.7437.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known diet I, lures 'l. Cowper, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relate: to improvements in automatic ponveying apparatus for transporting or'conveying suspended loeds from any or all of a series of stations along the system and automatically releasing said lozids at any or all of said stations on said system.

This device is especially adapted for handling with dospatch and facility the large number oi mail pouches required to be interchanged between stations particularly post oflicen.

This invention consists of an endleee cable mounted in a suitable lrameworlr and driven by an endless chain drive operated by sui'u hle power which chain carries a, number of gripe automatically gripping and releasing the cable at the proper moment.

Italso consists of traveling automatic carriers attached w the said cable and supported by suitable tracks upon which it travelsv for receiving and support ing the loads and which carriers are so constructed as to release the loads at a designaied station In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodying my invention, Figure l is a plan view of a corner of the device. Fig. 2 is a. sectional view on the line X X Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevation showing the device for driving on; cable. Fig. 4 is.a sectional side elevation of s. portion of Lhe automatic traveling carrier. Fig. 5 is ri. side elevation of or sending station. Fig. 6 is a rear elevation of the automatic traveling carrier on the track. Fig. 7 isaside elevation of the some. Fig.8isa detail sectional view showingsettingpin free to resume its normal position because of no load on carrier. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showingthe setting-pin held by Match and neutral to action of cams because of load on the carrier. Fig. 10 is a detail section showing the setting-pin in lie normal position. Fig. 11 ie'an enlarged sectional view of the setting-pin. Fig. 12 is a side elevation of gripping device. Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the device showing the jaws gripping the cable. Fig. 14 is a detail view oi the grip ping device showing the jaws open and cahlo released. Fig. 15 is a. detail view oi link oi chain carrying the cable grip. Fig. 16 is a vertical section through the lower part of traveling carrier.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout 1 therein the flanged supporting wheels C which are the several views.

The horizontal cross-bars A (Fig. l; are fastened 1.0 the walls A at one end and bolted to the standards A at the opposite end and supported thereby, carrying the hangers A which are rigidly lastened thereto. The tracks A A are fixed to the hangers A (Fig. 6). The vertical guide. rails A A are fixed to the lower ends of the said hangers A. The endless cable B is carried within the hangers A and supported at the turns by the idle grooved pulleys A. The automatic traveling car rier C (Figs. 6 and 7) travels on the tracks A A and is driven by the cable B to which it is clamped at the forwerd end by the clamp B held by the bolt, l3. Mcgnted upon the platform D is the motor D which supplies power to drive the endless chain E, and the gear 1) {bred to the motor shalt intermeshes with and drives the larger gear 1) fixed to the shaft l) which shalt. I) is mounted in hearings in extensions 0! the motor D. The gear 1) fired to the opposite end of the shaft D intermeshes with and drives a larger gear D fixed upon a shaft mounted in the bearings D and D and carrying the sprocket wheel or pulley E. The sprocket wheel E is mounted in line with the said eproclret wheel E and centrally over the cable B and mounted upon both oi the said sprocket wheels is the chain E. The cable gripe l are mounted at intervals in linlis oi the chain E, the said links being duplex (Fig. 15) and held together by the cross supports E and E, and the said links are pivoted to each other by the pins E The grips F (Figs. l2, l3 and 14) consist of the lever gripping arms F F pivoted to and between the cm supports E and E by the pin F. The upper ends of the lever-gripping arms F I? carry pivoted thereto by the pins F F, the Lhreaded studs F and F", which are adjustable in the pivoted members F and F respectively; said pivoted members F and F are pivoted by the pin F This combination forms an adjustable toggle joint.

The spring G backed by the pivoied joint. F acts upon the said toggle joint holding the lever ermsopen and the jaws cloned (Fig. 13). The bifurcated yoke G is pivoted over the toggle joint by the pivot F and straddles the pivoted joint F on each side. Stops G and G engage the slope G and G and prevent the joint. from working outward. The sprocket wheela E and E are recessed in the middle sufilciently to allow the grips F to pass thercinland tlie"depreesions E in the oulor periphery of said recess are provided, which depressions E are odapled tn uu'iperaie will: the top of lhe bifurcated yoke G and press thereon forcing the toggle joint. downward and opening the jaws of the lover gripping arms F F allowing said grips to pick up or drop the cable 13.

The aulolnaticlraveling carrier C carries journaled held thereon by the cutter pins (7" and are arlaplcd to travel in the trucks A N. The guide roll C is journuled in exteriuiuns in the lower part or the [mine of the said oarrior I) and oporalos ln-lwvrn lho gnido rails A and d hoiding tin t'zlll'it'l' stoady on tho lnn'ic. 'lhe ornss liar (3" l'lll'tH and ('tlilllll'lfi tho nppvr alnl loner forward (xlt-nsions ot IInsaid i-arrior 'iho rat-k I rg. i) llllllllll((l in tho lranio is hold lhorvin hy tinhoits passing through tho slots I. 'linswinging hook ii is pirott-d to tho lon'or ond ol lln' rarl; l1) linhoil ii and is hold in position hy lhrr spring ii avling, lln-roon, the stop ii prvwntin ils sa'inging outward 'ihv adjnstaido spring I nninntod in tini'raninoruarriurt at-Is upon Ilnl:ltl\' I" ind n'hou tin'ro is no load on Ihe hook ii, the rai-k ls tori-mi upward and havic, throwing tlnnolvht s on said l'tit'h nut oi mutant with illl' pawl ii" piwn'd to tho sliding I'rainr li' Iho pin ii" proronlin; tho said pawl i'rozn ongagin llnnoh'hos in this position of the rat-kn The hull i\' is mounted imisoly In-hind the rark and liniou'or end i'ngagt's and looks tho uxti-nsinn on iiit hook ii. 'iho ll|)|)tl' end is hunt and projoi-ls onlsidv tin frame I, and isadapii-d to ho thrown upward upon tlllillitl with the sliding l'rannr ii" lhorr-hy reh-asing, the swinging hook [I \rhirh hook it t-arrying a load roloasos said load and innnwiialr-ly resumes its initial l it'littl position. The sliding irannii" is mounted on the ways ii iii the rarrit'rl' (Fig. 7) and i-arrios tho Iingor ku'hii'h isadapIt-d In ougagtillt' mm ii. 'lhi'so i-alns ii are inounlod in tho lraino of Hip ronroyor at tho rw'oi\ in; slalions and arv lllt'illlttl snIiivii-ntiy lo ongagi- Ilnlinger k, tin-roh lifting a sliding l'rinno ii to tho top of lllt' rarriorx lilting llll' hull i\' and ri-lvasing lllt' load upon Illt' van rii-r,

h'onding stations arll't'iilWl along the irainou'ork of tho vonroyr-rronsisling ol'a soim-Iivtl'illll M pivoted to lln supporl A" l linpin M: tho otln'r ond t'arrit's lllt' hand adjnslod paa'i M piroiI-d by tho pin al This pa.\\'i is hold in llw notvhos ill lill' plate M hy means of tho spring M ar-ting Iin-rooir liavh iilil(il roprt-sonts a station along tin: lino. 'ihe soiling-pin N nionntod in naming lit in tho sliding l'ranw ii is hold outward hy tho spring: X :n-Iing lln-rvoir 'lho look N rta'ossod in tho sotling pin N and avlnah-d hy the spring N. The said ltit'k isadaptod to ongago lho latch Ni and a vain ill" is plan-d upon the moving vial of tho soh-i-lin- (dill iii whirh is adaptod to operate upon said Htiilllg pin N i'nrt'ing Ilnsaid pin to its inni-rniost pr sition. iI' the (-arrior is carrying a load, tho look N ungagos with tho iatt-h N and holds tlnpin N out of tipt ativv position.

'iilu operation is as follows; The operator standing at tho sondingslation and dosiring to send a load to station 4 i'aisos linsoim-tivo vain M nnlil tho pawl M rodpi-ralt-s with tho nnh-h dosignating station -i and upon the oarrior approarhing tinoporator and trawling in tho (lirorlion iudii'alod hy the arrow, Fig, 5, the opurator hangs the load on tho hook ii. 'lhL- soiling pin N ongagos and ridos upon tho si-ha-tivt- (-anl ill until tho siid'ing l'ranio ii" i-arrying liupaa'i ii" ongagvs the vorrosponding noh'h in tho i-arrii-r. The pin N (-ngaging tho t'ailll M" at the r-nd ol' Ilnsoh-i-Iivimin is tori-(d inward until it is iovIu-d h tho lall'h N vnmiging the link i\'-' iiitl't'ill. trawl hp ali 'lht- (:liiit'l is l'roo nou Io sialions until it roar-hos tho dvsignaii-d slalion (No. I it win-n tin lingor i\ong.-igos thtwaln ii \rhivh isadjuslvd lpr lhai lnlslihill ransing llnsliding lrann- Io ride upon said (:llli nnlil it roai'hos tin-position shown in doth-d l iinos Fig. 7 and engagos tho holt l\' lifting said bolt and rpioasing tlnhook ii thereby discharging the load. l'pon passing the same mm L, Iiio sliding l'rzune H drops to tho hottoln of tho rat-k and travels until it is ii iiiiitl and set for anothor station.

Having thus dost-riht-d Ill-u nature of my invention and si-t forth a t' lilb'lillt'lilll] onihodyim the same, what i tilliill as llt'\\' and desire to sci-are by Letters Patent ol lho lTnitt-d States is:

it In a ltllli't,\'ill,' apparatus, a framework, means for supporting said frnnn-uprk, trnrks or guidi: rails supportnd h said l'rann-n'ork. a vnrrlor aiiapti'd to travel on said lrarks or gnido rails. an oudloss liilill' adapted to urinate aid rarI'lPr, grippin lilt'iil'lfi for driving said rahlc, moans ior supplying poa'ur In said gripping moans and nnuns for antoniatiwllly roh'asin: and (-losing said gripping moans.

L, in a roan-ring apparatus, a fliHIII'WOl'k. moans for slijilml'iillg: said l'rann-a'orliv tracks or gnidr rails support. rd in said trans-work. a rzll'tkl adaplod to travel on said ll'ut'its or ,znidr rails. an ondlrss vahie adapled to artuate said varrioia ondh-ss gripping moans l'or driving. said rahic, moans for supplying: pom-r to said endless gripping means, and int-ans l'nr anlulnatiralhrolenslug and (losing said gripping ililllllN.

.1. In a rahlo drir h'l lt t'ifl'l whorls mounted in suitable hoarlnu's. means for supplying powor for driving said sprm'kil wln'ois. an tndicss ('llflll] IIlDlllHtd upon said sprm-kvt \rln-ols. spring-at'lnaiml grips carried li said and loss i-hain and adaptor] to oporato upon the ruhle, and nnans in said sprm-kol \rhools I'or tin travel thereon of said smingavlnalwl grips 4v In a l'lllllt drlro. sprovkvt whovls nmuntod in suitable lloarings. llli' lllH for supplying power for driving said sprorkot wlna-ls. an ondloss (ham mounted on said sprol'kol \vin'ols. s n'ing-avtlnited grips tal'lit'll iiy said end loss rhahn lnoans in said sprorkot \vheuis for the travel lln'roon or said spring-:u-lnatod grips, and moans located in said sprorkol uhoois oporating upon said sprlng-nctib tiltii grips tor gripping and roleasln the cable.

.7. in a waldo drivo. sprorkot wheels mounted in suitable htnl'ing's. moans for supplying power for driving Bait] .\'|Illlt'l (l \rlnwls. an ondlt ss rhaln mounted upon said sprni-livt uhools. spring-avt|ntlial grips rarried by said ndloss chain. moans in said spl'ln'kt'l whorls for the t ihornori at said spring-notnatod grips, lurking menu said springau-tnatod grips oporalod upon by one of sprm-ia-t whorls l'or lot-king tin grip upon the cable. I nit-ans lnralod in anoliior oi said sprocket wheels and [r orating upon said lorking Int-ans for rvirasing the grip upon tin- (:llili'.

ti in a warming apparatus. a framework, means for supporting said t'rann'work. tracks or guide rails support- \t' h said tralnou'orlc. a rarrlvr adapted to travel on said lrnrks or gnhlo rails. an ondloss cahle said rarrlor. nn-ans for guiding said cable. and adjustable moans on saidTrann-work t'ur reltnsilig the load on said ('arrior at any Ililtltlll'lillllI'(i point along the line of said apparatus.

7. In a supporting said framework,

ronvqring apparatus, a framework, means for tracks or guide ratls supportod I said frnmi-aurk a carrier adapted to travel on said (rat-ks or gnido rails, an ondloss rahlv adapted to actuate said -rirr, moans for driving said Willie. adjustable nnams for rolouslng tin load on said rurrier at any predolornihn-d point along the line oi said apparatus, and selm-tivo moans looati-d at any point on said line and operating upon said adjnstl'iiilv means for prmlol'erminlug the point of rolvnsu of said load sh In a noun-ring apparatus. a framework, means for supporting said t'l'llllil'\\'0|'k. tracks or guide rails supportrd by said l'ralnou'ork, 1| rnrrior adnptod to.travel on said Inn-ks or gniilo rails. an ondh-ss ralllo adapted to actuate said i'arrior. moans Ior drlvlm, said cable. adjustable means for ri-loasinn' linload on said warrior at any predolornihnal point along the lino of said apparatus, sel4lil\'|' moans lm-aiod a I. any puinl on said liniand operating upon said adjnslallliloans for prodrtorniluing the point of i'tiIiiSL of said load and means located in said adapted to actuate carrier for assuming an idle or nr-nmpm'nting position after Llw l'vlmisu ni' Siiiil ibzui.

ii. In u l':i luv, :1 suspended ii'alm. a toothed rack muuuiwl in riliill suspumled irnmn, A hunk pivoted to the luwti' will 01' said frame and adapted iu support 21 load, a imr muuuicd in said frame engaging an arm on said [100k and lacking said imuk in msitiun, a sliding ruvk mounted on said frnuw and min mal] tu lie adjusted l0 and c0- npvrulu Willi said inniilml mvk, :1 iingvr iuc'utr'd on said mvk and adapted to engage with z: cum. and means f0! Hlllll sliding rnc'k in gage sxiii} bar and release said load 10. in a 11111101, :1 sisspcndud frame, n iuutlmd rack mmmiwl in hiilii suSpUliLh-d fl'unw, a hook pivuiud to the lower (mi u! said frame and adumwl to suppm'l a load, a liar nmnnlml in said frame engaging an arm uu Sillii i100}; and lui'kill}; said liuuk in pusiiimi, a sliding rmk mounted un said mum and adapted tofue adjusted i0 and cuupemte with said ioullied rack, a linger located on said mvk and min m-d to engage with a cam, means for said sliding ruck t0 uuguge said biil' and release said load, and

l i i meims inr Hui-owing said maimed rack out 0! coiipei'ation with said sliding Pack after the release of said load.

11. in a rAri-ier. a suspended frame, ii loathed rack mounted in said suspended frame, u hook pivoted to the lower emi @f is frame and adapted to support we load, a bar mounted in said frame engaging the arm on said hock :mfi hacking; said hook in posillou, a sliding rack mounted on said Iramu, a springmctuated pin mounted in mild sliding rack and projecting therefrom, mild pin adapted to r-ngngc a selective cam; and means on said pin f0! commuting and iocking \vlih suid toothed rack when said ran-in): is landed.

in testimony wherpof, I have signed my name t0 this spcz-iiu-nliun in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this eighteenth day of May A. I). 1905.

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses;

Nu-14AM WILcOx, LOLiS G. BARTLETT. 

